Pier

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT PIER - PAGE 5

Rick and Margaret Arnold of Charlevoix are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan to Robert Pittman, son of Rod Pittman and Jane Holm of Ellsworth. The wedding is planned for July 2010 at Michigan Beach Pier, followed by a reception at Castle Farms. Megan is a 2003 graduate from Charlevoix High School, a 2005 graduate from Up North School of Cosmetology and is self employed at New Creation Hair Designs. Robert is a 1998 graduate from Charlevoix High School and is employed at Lakeshore Tire as a certified mechanic.

OTSEGO COUNTY - It was an average summer - you took the kids on the usual trip to the theme park, the beach, maybe to the go-kart track a couple times. But there's still that one thing you never did, the thing that fulfills families' summers: take a fishing trip. All children need to become fishermen is a rod, a hook and line, and some bait - the same basics that caught fish long before pro-fishermen showed up. Finding this stuff is easy: If you don't already have it in your shed or attic, shop around at garage sales.

In the midst of Petoskey’s urban area, a more natural setting can be found in the Bear River valley. And with crews currently putting some long-envisioned recreational features in place along the waterway, it will soon be easier for visitors to take advantage of that setting. Work on the $2.5 million corridor project began in late spring. Petoskey parks and recreation director Al Hansen said it’s proceeding on schedule, with city officials hoping to have the bulk of work completed within 2010.

The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce t has announced the winners of its annual gingerbread contest, which raised more than $700 for charitable organizations this year. The winners were announced Saturday after the gingerbread houses had been on display at Stafford's Pier Restaurant and voted on by three area judges, according to a chamber news release. Each entrant was asked to select an area charity and those who viewed the creations were given the opportunity to donate money to their favorite gingerbread houses and corresponding organizations.

HARBOR SPRINGS ? The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce announced its new president and board of directors for 2010 on Thursday. The annual meeting, held at the Pier Restaurant downtown Harbor Springs, included more than 30 area chamber members at the luncheon gathering. Stepping into the role of president, Joe Breighner advances from the vice president position to replace current president Gregg Garver in the coming year. Breighner applauded his predecessor for his work with the chamber.

CHARLEVOIX - Two members of a downstate high school swim team were injured in a swimming accident off Michigan Beach near the Pine River Channel pier Thursday. Charlevoix County Sheriff George T. Lasater said Chris Leseney and Ryan Jones, both 15, of Pottersville were swimming with three other companions at about 2:30 p.m. when they boys were caught in a rip current in heavy surf off the pier. The boys were rescued by Charlevoix lifeguards Keil Tilley and Michelle Rowe. The boys were transported to Charlevoix Area Hospital by Charlevoix Ambulance where they were treated for hypothermia, cuts and scrapes.

CHARLEVOIX - Despite the record-setting high temperatures the area experienced in March, it'll likely be many more weeks before area waterways are warm enough for swimming. But that won't keep the Charlevoix City Council from wading into a proposed ordinance amendment that would further restrict swimming in and around the Pine River Channel and dramatically increase penalties for violators. On Monday the council voted to set a public hearing on the ordinance for its next regular semi-monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 16. Currently, the ordinance (Title IX, Chapter 118 of the Charlevoix City Code)

25 years ago Food Co-op hopes to buy building The 500 members of the Grain Train Natural Foods Co-op hope to buy more than just organically-grown foodstuffs in 1988. They also hope to purchase the building on Howard Street that has served as the co-op's home since 1979. Individuals who join the co-op pay yearly dues until they have accumulated $100 worth of payments. At that point, they become lifetime members. This year, members are being asked for an additional $50 each to help fund purchase of the building.

BEAVER ISLAND - Two people were injured when a finger pier at the Beaver Island Yacht Dock collapsed Thursday. Jill Cooper, 45, of Zeeland, and Katherine Lee Cheaves, 36, of Ellsworth, suffered minor injuries for which they were treated at the scene by Beaver Island EMS. According to the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department, the incident happened at about 8 p.m. as seven people were standing on the dock. The five other people who fell into the 10-foot deep water included, Scott Cooper, 46, of Holland, Ron Lee, 47, of Taylor, Gerald Jay Cooper, 71, of Holland, Michael John Cooper, 47, of Zeeland, and Tracy Cheaves, 38, of Ellsworth.

LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) — Authorities searching for a man believed to have drowned in Lake Michigan after high waves knocked him off a pier in Ludington have found a body near where he was last seen. Police in Ludington say the body was found about 11:30 a.m. Thursday and authorities were working to make an official identification. The search for 26-year-old Anupam Bhattacharjee of Detroit was suspended following the discovery. The computer science Ph.D.